Chapter List

• Why Use Herbs
• Healing Not Just Relieving
• Natures Therapy
• Sidestepping Side Effects
• Back to the Future
• Environmental and Ethical Concerns
• Herbal Preparations
• Preparations for Internal Use
• Preparations for External Use
• Homemade Medicinal and Cosmetic Herbal Products
• Choosing the Best Herbal Products
• The Brain and the Central Nervous System
• Addiction
• Depression
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Memory
• Pain Inflammation
• Pain Nerve and Muscle
• Stress
• The Heart and the Circulatory System
• Angina and Irregular Heartbeat
• Arteriosclerosis
• Blood Pressure
• Varicose Veins and Hemorrhoids
• The Digestive System
• Appetite Loss
• Bowel Diseases
• Candida
• Adult Constipation
• Adult Diarrhea
• Diverticulitis
• Food Allergies and Reactions
• Heartburn
• Gas
• Indigestion
• Nausea and Motion Sickness
• Parasites and Other Alien Invaders
• Ulcers
• The Immune System
• Boosting Immunity
• Cancer
• Chronic Fatigue Multiple Sclerosis and Other Serious Diseases
• The Liver and the Gallbladder
• Liver Diseases
• Gallbladder Problems
• The Urinary Tract the Kidneys and the Bladder
• Bladder Infections
• Kidney Stones
• Water Retention
• The Skin
• Psoriasis Eczema And Other Skin Diseases
• Herbs For Healing The Skin
• Sending Parasites Scurrying
• Womens Health
• The Estrogen Story
• The Progesterone Story
• Anemia
• Cervical Dysplasia
• Endometriosis
• Fibrocystic Breasts
• Heavy Periods
• Womens Infertility
• Irregular Menstruation
• Menopause
• Menstrual Cramps
• Ovarian Cysts
• Pregnancy
• Premenstrual Syndrome(pms)
• Uterine Fibroids
• Vaginal Infections
• Mens Health
• Baldness
• Genital Rash Infections and Irritations
• Impotence
• Mens Infertility
• Male Menopause
• Prostate Enlargement
• Swollen Testicles
• Childrens Health
• Asthma
• Baby Skin Care and Diaper Rash
• Bedwetting
• Childhood Diseases
• Childrens Colds and Flu
• Childrens Constipation
• Childrens Diarrhea
• Earaches
• Fever
• Food Allergies
• Hyperactivity
• Intestinal Parasites
• Sore Throat Congestion and Swollen Glands
• Stomachache Colic and Nausea
• Stress Headaches and Insomnia
• Sugar Blues
• Teething Pain
• Thrush
• Herbs to the Rescue Herbal First Aid
• Stocking Your Herbal First Aid Kit
• Cautions and Considerations
• Safe in Moderation
• Rare Reactions in Sensitive Individuals
• The New Herbal Outcasts
• Some Old Cautions
• Using Herbs and Essential Oils Safely
• Mistaken Identity
• Not Guilty
• Protecting Yourself from Contamination
• Endangered Herbs
• Aromatherapy Healing the Emotions
• Aromatic Research
• Using Aromatherapy
• Aromatherapy Techniques
• Aromatherapy for the Emotions
• Measurements
• Skin and Hair Care
• Body Care the Natural Way
• Back to the Basics
• How to Customize Your Skin and Hair Care
• The Face
• The Body
• The Hair
• Body Care Extras
• Cooking for Health
• The Basics Soup
• Oils and Vinegars
• Spice of Life Seasoning Blends
• Middle Eastern Cuisine Garlic and Parsley
• Pestos Basil and Sage
• Greens Dandelion and Nasturtium
• Hot Stuff Mustard Horseradish and Peppers
• Saucy Dishes Cranberry Elderberry and Tamarind
• Down to the Roots Burdock and Chicory
• Sweet Treats Ginger and Horehound Drops

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Back to the Future

In an ideal medical system, herbalism would be viewed as a legitimate medical therapy, not as an outsider or "alternative" therapy. Recently, instruction in herbal therapy has been integrated into some medical curricula in Germany. So there is hope.

Unfortunately, in North America, medicine is extremely drug-oriented, and the American and Canadian Medical Associations have strong ties to pharmaceutical companies. It is no surprise that doctors, who are trained to use drugs, are hesitant to study herbs. Herbalist Michael Moore, author of Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest, sums it up well: "I have known perfectly intelligent physicians whose sole regularly used reference manuals were the Physician's Desk Reference and Goodman and Gillman, both of which are drug manuals. Their patients have come to expect, and receive, prescriptions as their only therapy."

Obviously, doctors are not the only ones who consider drugs their first option for treatment. The pharmaceutical companies are also not likely to change the way they do business. They can easily spend anywhere from $50 million to $100 million, mostly for safety testing, when submitting a new drug application to the FDA for approval. These companies are willing to pay that much because a new drug can reap incredible profits for the firm that holds the patent rights. Herbs, however, are available to anyone with a garden, and they cannot be patented. Drug companies are understandably reluctant to invest in a product that their competitors can pick up after the research is done. The result is that few herbal remedies are manufactured commercially, and drug use (especially use of specific brands of drugs) is encouraged.